Vietnam: Huế, Da Nang + Da Lat
This is the last post on my recent trip to Vietnam. I've crammed the last half into one massive post both because I feel like I needed to simplify things to get a post out AND honestly I didn't take as many pictures during the last half of the trip anyway. PS: Does this happen to anyone else when they travel? I suppose it's because you've begun to sink into a bit trip fatigue and new sights aren't quite as shiny as they were when you landed.
Huế - pronounced like Hoo-Way (but we justed ended up calling it 'way' because it was easier) - was the city my little bro knew best as he had lived there throughout the summer. Located in central Vietnam not far from the coast, it was once the capital of Vietnam. We ended up staying near the Imperial City at MINH TÚ Homestay with the sweetest host and her dog (an actual pet dog, not a sorta-stray like other dogs we saw) named Yes. He was pretty adorable.
Our first destination was Ho Thuy Tien, an abandoned waterpark which apparently is quite the sight to see. Unlucky for us (or maybe lucky?), we were told we could not enter by a group of men sitting outside the gate. We weren't the only tourists to get shooed away.
So, we headed to Tu Hieu monastery where Dana had taught English to Buddhists Nuns when he lived in Huế. We met a couple of friendly nuns then strolled the grounds. It's the home monastery of Ticht Nacht Han, one of the most famous Buddhist masters of recent times.
Of course, no trip to Huế is complete without touring the Imperial City. The complex was massive and we later wished we would have had a tour guide.
The evening before our train to Da Nang, we strolled around the Perfume river and ended our trip to the city with a dragon boat ride.
Okay, guys... if I could have just ONE favorite city in Vietnam it would be Da Nang. This coastal city is has a fantastic, laid-back vibe and easy access to several beautiful beaches. We happened to stay just a couple blocks from My Kye beach, named one of the best beaches in the world. And it was. Warm water, palm trees, silky sand... everything you want in a beach.
We also took some time to walk around the city and eventually visited the massive Lady Buddha located just out of the city on Monkey mountain where we saw monkeys (highlight of my life, seriously).
We happened to be in Da Nang on the weekend so we were lucky to see Da Nang's gorgeous Dragon Bridge blow fire (and water!) which only happens on Friday and Saturday nights. This was a must-see for us since my daughter is obsessed with dragons so I just had to get a photo. Also, mom finally got to drink coconut water from the source - and dried jellyfish? We still don't know.
Our last city to visit was Dana's current home turf of Da Lat. Da Lat is a little city (about the size of Fargo) located in the mountains between Da Nang and Saigon. We took another sleeper bus to get there and arrived in the morning. Our first stop (after taking a nap) was to get some Weasel Poop coffee. We stumbled upon Trai Ham, one of the farms which doubled as a coffee shop. The woman making our coffee gave us a quick tour and made us a fantastic cup of brew.
The rest of our time in Da Lat was pretty laid back. We headed to the Crystal Pagoda and visited another lady buddha, walked around the city and had our last fill of coffee.
Visiting Vietnam was a lovely experience I would recommend it to anyone needing a warm-weather vacation. When you see me next time, ask me about our trip from Da Lat to the airport in Saigon. It's quite the tale :)